Syphilis at record low; government wants to eliminate it by 2005

ATLANTA (AP)  Syphilis infections have fallen to a record low in the United States, bringing health officials closer to their goal of eliminating the sexually transmitted disease by 2005.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 5,979 cases nationwide in 2000, down nearly 10 percent from 1999. Infections are down 30 percent since the government announced a plan to eliminate syphilis three years ago.

Four in five counties nationwide are free of the disease, the CDC said.

The statistics were released Wednesday as public health leaders began three days of meetings in Dallas to come up with new ways to drive the syphilis rate down even further.

By 2005, the government wants to cut annual cases to fewer than 1,000 and boost the number of syphilis-free counties to 90 percent  its definition of eliminating the infection.

"We're definitely talking about something that is possible, and readily achievable," said Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, deputy chief of sexually transmitted diseases for the CDC.

Concentrated pockets of syphilis infections remain, mostly in Southern states and among poor blacks and Hispanics. Health officials hope to target those groups as they work to wipe out the disease.

And infections are on the rise among gay and bisexual men, particularly in large cities. That concerns experts because they suspect it reflects more risky sexual behavior, which could lead to a spike in HIV infections.

"It's easily diagnosed and easily treated, so when we have situations like this that show profound disparities across racial and ethnic groups, it really points out a breakdown in public health," said the CDC's Dr. George Counts.

Other groups posted encouraging statistics. Mother-to-child syphilis transmission is down more than half since 1997, and the rate among blacks has dropped 40 percent over the same time.

As a suggestion for counties that still have high syphilis rates, the CDC released results from three places where it provided extra money to test new strategies to combat the disease:

In Davidson County, Tenn., which includes Nashville, free syphilis testing is provided in nontraditional settings, including a mental health center and a library. Anti-syphilis ads appear on city buses and in parks, and the county jail runs a 24-hour syphilis testing and treatment center. The county syphilis rate fell 20 percent from 1999 to 2000.

In Marion County, Ind., home to Indianapolis, a coalition of government, religious groups and private businesses has canvassed the city to educate the public. The county syphilis rate fell 25 percent from 1999 to 2000.

In Wake County, N.C., which includes Raleigh, health officials target syphilis "hot zones," providing onsite testing. Community-outreach and jail programs also have been launched. The county syphilis rate fell 27 percent from 1999 to 2000.

Syphilis appears first as a sore, usually on the genitals, then develops as a rash. It can be cured with penicillin, but left untreated it can damage the heart, eyes, brain and other body parts.